Mob vandalizes Medanta Hospital Indore alleging patient declared was alive

The family allegedly saw the patient moving and asking for his mother while they were taking him to another hospital after the doctors at Medanta had declared him dead.

According to recent media accounts, the incident took place on February 23rd when the patient who has a history of acute kidney problems went unconscious at his home and was admitted to the hospital. After CT Scan, it was found that the patient had suffered a brain haemorrhage and his BP reached 200. Accordingly, the patient was taken to Neuro ICU and was put on a ventilator.

While the hospital authorities say that the patient was declared brain dead by the doctors and was put under observation; the family claims that the doctors declared the patient dead and asked for Rs 1.5 lakh to hand over his body to them. Later, they took the body after making payment, alleged family members.

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While returning back, the patient allegedly showed some movements in the ambulance and his family members immediately took him back to hospital. But, a doctor came to observe him only after an hour. He was then shifted to Bombay Hospital where he was announced brought dead.

The family members alleged, "His body showed movements and he even called his mother twice in the ambulance in which we were taking him home. We had made preparations for last rites but were surprised after seeing his body move a little. We reached hospital again but no doctor was available in the emergency unit for more than half-an-hour. As a result, we took the patient to Bombay Hospital where he was declared brought dead."

Infuriated, the family along with the mob charged the hospital and vandalised the hospital.

Police had to intervene in the matter and the main entrance of Medanta Hospital remained locked for four hours, that is, from 12 noon to 4 pm, as the enraged relatives of the boy staged demonstration against hospital administration, reports The Free Press Journal

Meanwhile, the hospital authorities state otherwise. Speaking to TOI while denying the allegations levelled by the patient's family, medical director Dr Sandeep Srivastava said that doctors had never declared the boy dead. His family took him after signing Leave Against Medical Advice (LAMA) form, he added.

"He was brain dead. The boy was insured under a policy of national insurance. But his family paid Rs 5,000 in cash before showing copy of insurance policy. We made the refund cheque against the payment," said Srivastava.

The police have sent the body for post mortem and registered a case.